Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.

Alternative Names:

Plaque psoriasis

Exams and Tests:

Your doctor or nurse can very often diagnose this condition by looking at your skin.

Sometimes, a skin biopsy is done to rule out other possible conditions. If you have joint pain, your doctor may order x-rays.

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to control your symptoms and prevent infection.

Three treatment options are available:

Skin lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoos. These are called topical treatments.

Pills or injections that affect the body's immune response, not just the skin. These are called systemic, or body-wide, treatments.

Phototherapy, which uses light to treat psoriasis.

TREATMENTS USED ON THE SKIN (TOPICAL)

Most of the time, psoriasis is treated with medicines that are placed directly on the skin or scalp. These may include:

Cortisone creams and ointments

Creams or ointments that contain coal tar or anthralin

Creams to remove the scaling (usually salicylic acid or lactic acid)

Dandruff shampoos (over-the-counter or prescription)

Moisturizers

Prescription medicines containing vitamin D or vitamin A (retinoids)

SYSTEMIC (BODY-WIDE) TREATMENTS

If you have very severe psoriasis, your doctor will likely recommend medicines that suppress the immune system's faulty response. These medicines include methotrexate or cyclosporine. Retinoids such as acitretin can also be used.

Newer drugs called biologics are used when other treatments do not work. Biologics approved for the treatment of psoriasis include:

Adalimumab (Humira)

Etanercept (Enbrel)

Infliximab (Remicade)

Stelara

PHOTOTHERAPY

Some people may choose to have phototherapy.

Phototherapy is a medical treatment in which your skin is carefully exposed to ultraviolet light.

Phototherapy may be given alone or after you take a drug that makes the skin sensitive to light.

Phototherapy for psoriasis can be given as ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light.

OTHER TREATMENTS

If you have an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

AT HOME CARE

Follow these tips at home:

Taking a daily bath or shower can help your psoriasis. Try not to scrub too hard because this can irritate the skin and trigger an attack.

Oatmeal baths may be soothing and may help to loosen scales. You can use over-the-counter oatmeal bath products. Or, you can mix 1 cup of oatmeal into a tub of warm water.

Keeping your skin clean and moist and avoiding your specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare-ups.

Sunlight may help your symptoms go away. Be careful not to get sunburned.

Relaxation and antistress techniques may be helpful. The link between stress and flares of psoriasis is not well understood, however.

Limiting the alcoholic beverages you drink may help keep psoriasis from getting worse.

Psoriasis is a life-long condition that can be controlled with treatment. It may go away for a long time and then return. With proper treatment it will not affect your overall health. Some people with psoriasis have a type of arthritis.

When to Contact a Medical Professional:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of psoriasis or if the skin irritation continues despite treatment.

Tell your doctor if you have joint pain or fever with your psoriasis attacks.

If you have symptoms of arthritis, talk to your dermatologist or rheumatologist.

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have a severe outbreak that covers all or most of your body.

Prevention:

There is no known way to prevent psoriasis. Keeping the skin clean and moist and avoiding your specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare-ups.

Doctors recommend daily baths or showers for persons with psoriasis. Avoid scrubbing too hard, because this can irritate the skin and trigger an attack.

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the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be
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